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Norris wins on BRDC F4 Autumn Trophy debut

MSA Formula champion Lando Norris claimed victory on his BRDC Formula 4 debut as the second round of the Autumn Trophy kicked off at Brands Hatch.

Norris, who only drove the new Tatuus-Cosworth for the first time on Friday, profited from a crash for points leader Harrison Scott to claim the win.

With the race starting under fine rain, and the field lining up on wets, it was second-placed man Scott who made the best start, jumping poleman Norris for the lead into Paddock Hill Bend, as further back Ben Barnicoat passed Sisa Ngebulana for third.

Scott had built up a two second advantage from the chasing Norris by lap eight, only to spin out at Clearways, backing his Douglas Motorsports-run car into the barriers and handing Norris the lead.

“It was unlucky for Harrison as he dropped a wheel on to the grass and didn’t finish,” said Norris.

“I think he pushed a little bit too hard and made a slight mistake.”

A safety car – deployed to clear Scott’s stranded car – wiped out Norris’ healthy lead over new second-place runner Ngebulana, but the 16-year-old was uncatchable after the restart.

As Barnicoat and Ngebulana engaged in a squabble for second, Norris pulled 13.550s clear of his rivals over the remainder of the 25-lap race to secure a win on his debut.

Barnicoat bounced back from a qualifying crash to beat Ngebulana to claim second, with Fortec’s Faisal Al Zubair the final classified runner in fourth.

With Scott spinning out, Barnicoat now trails his rival by 16 points in the battle for the Autumn Trophy title, with races left to run.

Scott will start the second race of the weekend from pole after posting the fastest lap prior to his accident.